EP2036712B1 - Rotation embossing device and embossing method - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a rotary embossing device according to the preamble of claim 1. Also disclosed is a method for introducing embossing in folding box blanks and a folding box gluing machine with a rotary embossing device.

Folding cartons are cardboard or corrugated board packaging, and to a lesser extent plastic, which are glued at one or more points during the folding process, depending on the design. They are usually produced from a blank. The blanks are usually punched out on a sheet punch. The blank must be glued at least at one edge. The folded boxes come out of the carton gluer in the flat state. The placement and filling of the box can be done by machine or manually.

In addition to the folds required to produce the cartons, further creasing lines in the carton gluer are pre-folded (prefolded) to prepare for the subsequent production step. This facilitates the getting up of the box and the subsequent filling.

If the cartons are used for the packaging of medicines, it is legally required to apply the name of the medicament in Braille (so-called Braille) to the carton (eg by embossing).

According to the prior art, the embossing of braille is carried out either during the punching process in the sheet punch in the production of blanks. However, this is expensive because a punching sheet several benefits, ie blanks contains and for each benefit a pair of tools consisting of die and male must be provided. Or there are rotary embossing devices with two rotating embossing tools are used, which may for example be part of a Faltschachtelklebemaschine. As is known, such rotary embossing devices have a common drive for both rotary tools. To the embossment in the right position on the To be able to apply folded carton blank, the rotary tools must be synchronized relative to the folding carton blank. In particular, when introducing a braille in the carton blank synchronization must be done very accurately. Due to the moment of inertia of die, male and rotary drive the required accuracy of synchronization is difficult or impossible to achieve. Another disadvantage is that rotary embossing devices for better synchronization are often driven in start / stop operation. Ie. the rotary embossing tools are stopped for synchronization and subsequently accelerated again. As a result, the production capacity of the rotary embossing device is severely limited.

The EP 1 447 211 A2 shows a device for impressing transverse grooves in cardboard. To make a groove both sides of the cardboard are deformed by rotating tools. The synchronization of the two rotary tools is done permanently by electronic coupling of the drive means and / or by means of spur gears, which are rotatably connected to the rotary tools. Such an arrangement transferred to a rotary embossing device does not contribute to the solution of the problems, since here too the moment of inertia of rotary tools and drives is very large.

The EP 1 537 920 A1 shows an apparatus for cutting, creasing and embossing sheet material, such as cardboard, with two rollers. The rollers are each driven by a separate electric motor. A control unit causes the synchronization of the rotating rollers. The two rollers can continue to be moved along a vertical guide by means of linear actuators. This serves to regulate the distance between the rolls and thus the adaptation to the product thickness. However, such a device can not be used for embossing braille, since the purely electronic synchronization of the two rollers does not achieve the required accuracy for embossing braille.

Also known is a device for dimpling endless strip material (see Fig. 1 ). When dimpling example, a metal sheet is provided with a variety of small imprints with dimensions in the millimeter range. The dulled sheet metal can be cut to size and processed into cooler tubes. In the in Fig. 1 The apparatus shown for dimpling rotate four tools, namely the central roller 101 and three lunar rollers 102. The rollers are each driven by a separate servo motor 103. The endless belt material 105 wraps around the central roller and is conveyed by it through the device. To ensure a slip-free transport of the strip material 105, an additional rubber roller can increase the contact pressure of the strip material 105 on the central roller 101. On the surface of the central roller 101 is the die for the dimple embossing. The associated stamps are mounted on the lunar rollers 102. The lunar rollers 102 are characterized by a cross-sectionally crescent-shaped shape and are each arranged offset around the central roller 101. In the region of their crescent-shaped segments, the lunar rollers 102 roll on the central roller 101. The central roll 101 and the lunar rolls 102 each have a ring gear 104, wherein the ring gears 104 of the central roll 101 are engaged with a respective lunar roll 102 during dimpling. This ensures a synchronization of punches and dies. A disadvantage of such a device is the high manufacturing complexity in the production of lunar rollers. EP 1 820 632 A1 discloses an embossing device having the features in the preamble of present claim 1. EP 1 145 791 A1 shows a conventional rotary cutter. The object of the present invention is therefore to describe a rotary embossing device for introducing embossing, in particular braille, whereby the disadvantages of the prior art are eliminated, a high-precision embossing is made possible and a high production output is achieved.

This object is achieved by a rotary embossing device with the characterizing features of claim 1.

A rotary embossing device has two rotating embossing tools, a male and a female, for the introduction of imprints, in particular braille, in folding box blanks. Die and male each have their own rotary drive, which can be configured for example as a servomotor. A first embossing tool unit comprises the male and a first gear and is rotatably connected to a male shaft. The male shaft is height adjustable and can be moved by means of an actuator. A second embossing tool unit comprises the die and a second gear and is rotatably mounted on a die shaft. The rotation of the second embossing tool unit on the die shaft is prevented up to a limit torque by a locking device. Patrizenwelle and Patrizenwelle are arranged parallel to each other. Immediately before the embossing process begins, the male is lowered and the gears of the first and second embossing tool units interlock. This synchronizes the motion of the male and female molds. Ie. the speeds of male and female are matched and male and female are positioned relative to each other. In an advantageous development, the actuator is a piezoactuator.

According to the invention, the rotary embossing device has two rotating embossing tools, namely a die and a male, for the introduction of embossments, in particular Braille, in folding box blanks. Die and male each have their own rotary drive. The male part and a first coupling half are rotatably mounted on a Patrizenwelle. A second coupling half and a first gear are mounted on an intermediate shaft, wherein the male shaft and the intermediate shaft are aligned. An embossing tool unit comprising the die and a second gear is rotatably mounted on a Patrizenwelle. The rotation of the embossing tool unit on the shaft is prevented up to a limit torque by a locking device. The male shaft and the female shaft are arranged parallel to each other. If the two coupling halves, for example, with spur gears, coupled, so first and second gear mesh. Immediately before the embossing process begins, the coupling takes place and the male and female parts are synchronized.

The two aforementioned variants of the rotary embossing device have in common that the embossing tools are mechanically coupled only during the embossing process. The time of the embossing process, the embossing phase, can thus also be referred to as the synchronous phase. In the asynchronous phase can in inventive embodiment of the Rotationsprägeeinrichtung the rotation tools are set in an advantageous manner relative to the embossing position on the Faltschachtelzuschnitten.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the locking device has spring assemblies for applying a frictional force between embossing tool unit and die shaft.

In an advantageous embodiment of the rotary embossing device, the die shaft is designed as a hollow shaft. At its one end, the hollow shaft has a compressed air connection. In the area of the die, the hollow shaft has openings. This makes it possible that when a compressed air at the compressed air connection of the hollow shaft blow through the recesses in the die and the die can be cleaned with it.

In an advantageous and preferred embodiment and development of the preceding embodiments, the die has an encircling hole pattern which is independent of the embossing to be introduced in the folding box blanks. Therefore, it is sufficient if the die is displaced relative to the male by a maximum of one hole spacing and the punch of the male can dive into the holes of the die. The displaceability of the die is ensured by the rotatable mounting of the second embossing tool unit on the male shaft.

Disclosed is also a method for introducing embossments, in particular Braille, in folding box blanks by means of a rotary embossing device. The die, driven by a die rotation drive, is in constant rotation. The speed of the die corresponds to the speed of the folding carton blanks which are fed to the rotary embossing device. The male is driven by a Patrizenrotationsantrieb and rotated. In order to position the male part relative to the embossing position of a folding box blank, the male part is correspondingly accelerated or decelerated. If the patrix has the correct angle of rotation, relative to the embossing position of a folding chess section, the speed of the patrice is adapted to the die so that die, patrix and Faltschachtelzuschnitt have the same speed. Immediately before the embossing process begins, the male and female shafts are mechanically coupled by means of sprockets. The intermeshing of the sprockets synchronizes the male and female molds and sets the position of the male and female molds relative to one another. After reaching the synchronous run of the die and the male part, the stamping process of the folding carton blank begins.

By an advantageous test method, the quality of the imprints can be checked. For this purpose, the first after a machine stop and the last before a machine stop manufactured carton is checked by the machine operator. To ensure that each other carton has also been embossed, the rotary embossing device has a counter with a computer. Each folding carton passing through the device is detected and counted by means of a sensor, for example a light barrier. Each revolution of the male drive is also counted. The two sums are compared by the computer. In the event of deviations, a message is sent to the machine operator, as embossing errors are to be expected. Furthermore, it can be checked whether the embossing has been applied to the correct place on the carton. For this purpose, the time at which the male shaft is lowered or the male shaft and the intermediate shaft are coupled, also reported to the computer. This is compared with a delayed, reported by the sensor time, which corresponds to the passage start of Faltschachtelzuschnittes by the embossing tools. In the event of deviations, a message is sent to the machine operator, as embossing errors are to be expected.

With regard to further advantageous embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the dependent claims and the description of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1

eine Vorrichtung zum Dimpetn nach dem Stand der Technik

Fig. 2

eine Faltschachtelklebemaschine mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Rotationsprägeeinrichtung

Fig. 3

ein zum Verständnis der Erfindung nützliches Beispiel einer Rotationsprägeeinrichtung

Fig. 4

eine erfindungsgemäße Ausführungsform einer Rotationsprägeeinrichtung

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment. It show in a schematic representation

Fig. 1

a device for Dimpetn according to the prior art

Fig. 2

a folding box gluing machine with a rotary embossing device according to the invention

Fig. 3

an example of a rotary embossing device useful for understanding the invention

Fig. 4

an inventive embodiment of a rotary embossing device

Fig. 2 shows a Faltschachtelklebemaschine 1 with a rotary embossing device 10 according to the invention. Faltschachtelzuschnitte 2 are transported by a feeder in the transport direction T through the Faltschachtelklebemaschine 1 to a boom. The folding carton blanks 2 also pass through the rotary embossing device 10. This has a male part 11 and a die 12 for introducing embossments into the folding carton blanks 2. The folded-carton blanks 2 are transported at the speed vF. In the contact line of male part 11 and folding carton blank 2 during the embossing process, the male part 11 has the speed vP. During the embossing process, the speeds of the die, male and folding carton blanks vM, vP and vF have the same amount so that there are no relative movements and thus markings of the stencil blanks Folding carton blank is coming. Next is in Fig. 2 a compressed air generator 3, which is connected to the compressed air connection 25 (not shown) of the male shaft 14 (not shown) of the die 12.

Fig. 3 shows a useful for understanding the invention example of a rotary embossing device 10 with an actuator 21. A first embossing tool unit comprises the male part 11 and a first gear 15. This embossing tool unit 11, 15 is rotatably mounted on a Patrizenwelle 13. The male shaft 13 is driven by a rotary drive 17. By means of an actuator 21 can be the Patrizenwelle 13th Adjust in height in the direction of movement a. As a result, the distance between the male shaft 13 and the male shaft 14 can be varied. On the die shaft 14 is a second embossing tool unit, consisting of die 12 and a second gear 16, rotatably mounted. The second embossing tool unit 12, 16 has a locking device (not shown), which prevents the rotation of the unit 12, 16 relative to the Patrizenwelle 14 to a limit torque. The Patrizenwelle 14 is designed by a rotary drive 18. The Patrizenwelle 14 is designed as a hollow shaft and has at one end a compressed air connection 25 by a compressed air generator 3 (not shown) provided compressed air of the female shaft 14, flows through this and escapes in the area Die 12. This will blow through the holes in the die 12 and clean it of dirt. Directly before the start of the embossing process, the male shaft 13 is lowered in the direction of movement a, so that first gear 15 and second gear 16 engage with each other. As a result, the male part 11 and the female part 12 are synchronized during embossing. Between the male part 11 and die 12 there is a folding box blank 2 to be stamped. After completing the stamping operation, the male shaft 13 is raised again in the direction of movement a by the actuator 21.

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of a rotary embossing device 10 according to the invention with a coupling 22, 23. A male part 11 and a first coupling half 22 are rotatably connected to the male shaft 13. The male shaft 13 is driven by a rotary drive 17. A second coupling half 23 and a first gear 15 are rotatably connected to an intermediate shaft 24. Patrizenwelle 13 and intermediate shaft 24 are aligned. The coupling halves 22, 23 each have an end toothing and can be coupled by a coupling movement b. On the die shaft 14 is a stamping tool unit consisting of die 12 and second gear 16, rotatably mounted. The rotation of the embossing tool unit 12, 16 relative to the male shaft 14 is also prevented in this embodiment by a locking device to a limit torque. The male shaft 14 is driven by a rotary drive 18. Immediately before the start of the embossing process, the two coupling halves 22 and 23 are coupled together by the intermediate shaft 24 by a coupling movement b in the direction of the die 11th is moved. In the engaged state, the male 11 and female 12 are thereby synchronized during embossing. During embossing, there is a folding carton blank 2 (indicated by dotted lines) to be embossed between the male part 11 and the female part 12. After the embossing process has ended, the intermediate shaft 24 is disengaged again and the intermediate shaft 24 is displaced counter to the engaging movement b. <B> LIST OF REFERENCES </ b> 1 gluer 25 Compressed air connection 2 folding box 3 Compressed air generator 101 central roll 102 moon roller 10 Rotary embosser 103 servomotor 11 punch 104 sprocket 12 die 105 band material 13 Patrizenwelle 14 Matrizenwelle a Direction of movement of 15 first gear Patrizenwelle 16 second gear b Einkuppelbewegung 17 Rotary drive male vP Speed male 18 Rotary drive die vM Speed die 21 actuator vF speed 22 first coupling half folding box 23 second coupling half 24 intermediate shaft T transport direction

Claims (4)

1. Rotary embossing device (10) with two rotary cylindrical embossing tools, a male tool (11) and a female tool (12), for forming embossments, particularly Braille lettering, in folding box blanks (2),
   wherein a male tool drive shaft (13) and a female tool drive shaft (14) are arranged parallel to each other,
   characterized in that
   the embossing tools (11, 12) each have an own rotary drive (17, 18) and the embossing tools (11, 12) are coupled mechanically only during the embossing operation,
   the male tool (11) and a first clutch half (22) are mounted on the male tool drive shaft (13),
   a second clutch half (23) and a first gear (15) are mounted on an intermediate shaft (24), the male tool drive shaft (13) and the intermediate shaft (24) being aligned,
   an embossing tool unit (12, 16) comprising said female tool (12) and a second gear (16) are pivot-mounted on said female tool drive shaft (14), wherein the rotation up to a limiting torque is prevented by a locking mechanism, and
   the clutch halves (22, 23) are coupled during the embossing operation and the gears (15, 16) mesh with another to synchronize the male tool (11) and the female tool (12).
2. Rotary embossing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking mechanism has spring assemblies for exerting a friction force between the embossing tool unit (12, 16) and the female tool drive shaft (14).
3. Rotary embossing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the female tool (14) is a hollow shaft having a compressed air port (25) at the shaft end and has openings in the region of the male tool (12) whereby openings in the male tool (12) can be blown through.
4. Folding box gluing machine (1) having the rotary embossing device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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